Need Reality Check: Royal Oak smells bad to me.

cocktails42 · December 2011

Hi guys,

This has been bothering me for a while. I buy the red bag, Royal Oak lump at Wal-Mart. It is highly rated on NakedWhiz.com.

Thing is, it has a smell to me I don't like. I'm careful to burn the new coal till there's no smoke coming off it, so that's not the problem.

Last night I did a cook and my wife loved it. I was very unhappy with it. To me the Royal Oak gives off some sort of "chemical" smell. Always has, bag after bag after bag.

So I need a reality check. I think this is just me and I'm gonna have to switch brands.

Has anyone else experienced this dislike of the Royal Oak aroma?

cocktails42 · December 2011

I know. I agree it's weird.

Funny thing is I was wondering if mesquite charcoal might be a good course for me. hehe. funny, huh?

I think I'm gonna try a couple different brands. I had some Wicked Good once and liked that.

Gato · December 2011

I really like Ozark Oak. I have a bag of Royal Oak but haven't tried it yet.

stike · December 2011

you maybe smelling ammonia? that's normal, but should blow off after a while as the draft thru the egg carries it away.

gerhardk · December 2011

If it smells bad to me I would switch, not matter if others don't smell it. I would always have that doubt in the back of my mind about it so why bother.

Gerhard

The Naked Whiz · December 2011

You say red bag. Did you check the back to make sure it is the US Royal Oak? RO has source charcoal in red bags from 3 other countries. If you want to try Ozark Oak and can't find it, you can order it with free shipping from www.grillstuff.com if you buy 10 bags at 10.95/bag.

cocktails42 · December 2011

Stike,

I smell and taste it in the food.

Whiz,

It's the Made in USA stuff. I'll look into Ozark Oak. But I don't mind spending more for something I like.

cocktails42 · December 2011

Okay,

UPDATE: I went over an looked at the www.grillstuff.com site and just ordered 10 bags of Ozark Oak. Heck, I'll try it out AND also give my son 5 bags for his egg.

ribnrun · December 2011

My complaint with RO has been the number of rocks, bones, sticks, marbles, bricks, and other random 'flavor enhancers' in my bags. Cowboy is also available in my immediate area, but it is usually crushed up so bad that only 1/2 the bag is usable. I know my local delivery guys too well, so mail ordering charcoal is a bad idea, it will give me black lung opening the bag. So hard to find good stuff.

banzaitoyota · December 2011

I have the same issue with BGE charcoal. Don't have that issue with weekend warrior

The Naked Whiz · December 2011

Found a baseball rock in the last bag of Ozark Oak. It's not just RO that has extras.

ribnrun · December 2011

I have made a modern art tribute to Lump charcoal along the railing of me deck next to my egg. Anyone have advice on how to post a photo? Keeps telling me the photo is too large.

osageid · December 2011

I use RO, no problems here, but will have to check again the next time I use!

Shawn · December 2011

Go with basque natures ownes or Maple Leaf lump! http://www.basquescharcoal.com/find.php

I have been using Royal oak blue bags in Canada and found there stuff to be hit and miss latelly! There quality control went out the window. I am now using Maple Leafs and Basque Natures own and love them and it smell very good! Also Basque is used by pitmasters like Diva-Q!

Squeezy · December 2011

Go with basque natures ownes or Maple Leaf lump! http://www.basquescharcoal.com/find.php

I have been using Royal oak blue bags in Canada and found there stuff to be hit and miss latelly! There quality control went out the window. I am now using Maple Leafs and Basque Natures own and love them and it smell very good! Also Basque is used by pitmasters like Diva-Q!

+1

gabriegger · December 2011

I had that 'chemical' smell & taste with Best of the West Mesquite. Bought a small bag and pitched it after two cooks. Have used Maple Leaf and BGE lump exclusively ever since. Will be BGE for awhile now as I picked up a truck load on sale at a couple of demo days in Toronto over the past week. Anyone try Dragon's Breath?

Squeezy · December 2011

Yes on the Dragon ... lights up like the 4th of July ... otherwise OK

gabriegger · December 2011

Thanks Squeezy. Was told that it sparks big time when lit. Was wondering about it after I saw an employee at local dealer loading a dolly full into into his car. Talked to a couple of eggers in the store and they use different lump depending on what they cook. Maple Leaf is ten bucks cheaper than BGE here, but I can't find any other lump that gives meat the same taste as BGE. So I buy both and mix the bags together.

cocktails42 · December 2011

You guys know that Royal Oak makes the lump for BGE? Check out the info on this at nakedwhiz.com

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpdatabase/lumpbag5.htm

I'm not trying to start trouble. Just sayin'.

Also, I'm certain that the problem is with me, not with RO. But it's a good motivator for me to try different lump and see what suits me.

chrisnjenn · December 2011

Found a baseball rock in the last bag of Ozark Oak. It's not just RO that has extras.

I like RO better than Ozark Oak. I wasn't impressed with Ozark at all. Average lump.

rodent · December 2011

Where do you guys by basque in Canada. I live in st catharines

Squeezy · December 2011

Where do you guys by basque in Canada. I live in st catharines

Sorry to say I could find no place selling in St. Catharines, I'm lucky (I guess) Brantford is only 30 minutes away.

You can contact them here; http://www.basquescharcoal.com/RetailCANADA.php

Bluedot · December 2011

I use Nature Glow and love it. I found a wholesaler here & I pay $22.00 for 40 lbs.

Bluedot · December 2011

I forgot to add that the local BGE retailer sells it for about $20.00 for 20 lbs

The Naked Whiz · December 2011

Nature-Glo is made by Royal Oak.

smasch · December 2011

I have reccently switched to B & B Charcoal and have been happy with the results. No debris after 4 bags and a resonable price. $12.97 / 20 lbs at Acadamy Sports.

nburckel · December 2011

I also had a bad bag of charcoal. It smelled like chemicals and now my egg smells the same even after I removed it. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get rid of the smell? Thanks in advance.

GreenhawK · December 2011

I have been using B & B for a while. It is definitely a good deal. I have had a couple of rocks over the course of 20 bags or so. My only complaint is that it has so many small pieces, but even though they are small I have always used the whole bag.

EGGzilla_jr · December 2011

I have made a modern art tribute to Lump charcoal along the railing of me deck next to my egg. Anyone have advice on how to post a photo? Keeps telling me the photo is too large.

Do you have a way to edit the photo? Change the resolution to 72 or the size to about 800 pixels wide...that should work.

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Need Reality Check: Royal Oak smells bad to me.

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